Apparatus for coating fabrics



y 1935. A. w. DROBILE 2,001,488

APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l May14, 1935. A. w. DROBILE 2,001,483

APPARATUS FDR COATING FABRICS Filed March '7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May14, 1935. A wv DROBILE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 19305 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1935. A w, DROBILE 2,001,488

APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS Filed March 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Shem 4 May14, 1935. A. w. DROBILE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March '7, 1930 Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIE2,001,488 APPARATUS FOR COATING memos Albert W. Drobile, Cynwyd, Pa.Application March '7, 1930, Serial No. 433,907

8 Claims.

My invention is designed to provide an apparatus for applying anadherent coating to the backing of a pile fabric so as to form thereon athin water soluble film which penetrates the 5 interstices and pores ofthe backing and pile fibres to strengthen and prevent raveling of thebacking and firmly anchor the pile.

My improvements are particularly applicable to the coating of pilefabrics woven with a backing containing a subnormal number of weftthreads and 'having'pile looped over each weft thread so looselyenmeshed in the backing as to be unsuitable for dyeing, finishing or usein the condition in which woven, and the application to such fabrics ofan aqueous dispersion of rubber solidifiable on the fabric by heat.

In the preferred practice of my improvements, the loosely woven pilefabric is coated while suspended from card clothing rollers whichsupport the pile face without displacing the pile from the backing andthe coating is confined and swirled adjacent to the point of applicationof the backing, and thereby caused to better penetrate the fabric, whichmay, if desired, be humidified or moistened to render it more absorbentand increase the capillary action of the fibres. Any loose pile fibresresulting from cutting, passage through the humidifier or from othercauses, may be evacuated from the backing, and the loops of the pile arepreferably pressed firmly into position against the weft threadsimmediately before application of the coating and while the fabric issuspended between the card clothing rollers.

My improvements further provide means for nicely regulating thethickness of the applied coat and for letting excess coating to thesupply reservoir without violent agitation which tends to coagulatecertain aqueous rubber dispersions containing vulcanizers andaccelerators or facilitating solidification and vulcanization of thecoating on the fabric during the passage thereof through a drier towhich it is delivered from the coating mechanism.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements willfurther appear from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings of apparatus illustrating my invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, ofapparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view ofthe coating apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view on an enlarged scale of the coating apparatus; Fig. 3a isan enlarged side elevation of a blade by which the coating may beapplied to the fabric backing and caused to permeate the same; Fig. 4 isan enlarged end elevation of the coating apparatus and Fig. 5 is an endview of the coating apparatus, with parts omitted, showing a preferred 5mechanism for returning excess coating to the supply reservoir.

In accordance with my invention, the fabric to be treated, preferablyconsisting of a loosely woven pile fabric, is translated in a continuousoperation through my improved apparatus which first prepares the fabricfor coating, then coats the fabric, and then solidifies the coating, theseveral mechanisms being operated in synchronous relation.

As illustrated in the drawings, a frame I has fixed thereto a bracket 2in which are journalled rollers 3, 4, 5 and 6. A steam box or humidifier1 is also mounted upon the bracket 2 and supplied with steam through aperforated tube 8 sur- 2 rounded by a perforated cylinder 9. A looselywoven pile fabric A passes over the rollers 3, 4 and 5, and into thehumidifier through the slot l0 where it is moistened by steam emittedfrom the pipe 8 and cylinder 9 and passes from the humidifier throughthe slot l l. The engagement of the back of the fabric with rollers 3, 4and 5 prevents dislodgment of the pile and tends to --properly positionit in the backing, and the moistening of the fabric in the humidifierincreases the capillarity and absorption of the fibres.

Fabric passing from the humidifier passes over the rotatable roller 6and under the rotatable roller l2 which hold the fabric taut duringbrushing of the backing and pile loops thereof by a rotary brush [3. Anyloose pile projecting from the backing of the fabric A are swept by thebrush l3 into a receptacle M.

The brushed fabric is held by the roller l2 against a card clothingroller I5 having wires 01' teeth l5 projecting therefrom incounterclockwise direction. The wires or teeth [5' support the backingaway from the face of the roller I5, the wires or teeth being ofsuitable length to receive the pile threads among them so as to avoidany pressure on the tips of the pile tending to displace the pile loopsfrom the backing. The rotation of the roller I5 is retarded by a brakeband l6 secured to anchorages I1 and passing around drums l5" fixed tothe shaft of the roller I 5. The opposite ends of the brake band areconnected by links l8 to fulcrumed notched levers H! from which weights20 are suspended on hangers 2|. The drag on the roller l5 may be variedby changis confined in the ing the number or weights of the disks 28 orthe position of the hangers 2| on thelevers I 9.

A card clothing roller 22, complementary to the roller I5, is journalledin the frame I and has its teeth or wires 22' projected therefrom in aclock.- wise direction, the length of such teeth vor wires I beingproperly proportioned to house between them the free ends of the pileand support the backing on the fabric A. The roller 22 is revolved in aclockwise direction through a; sprocket 23 which is made loose or fastto the shaft of the roller 22 by a clutch 23'. A sprocket chain 24operatively connects the sprocket 23 with a sprocket 25, and the tensionof the sprocket chain may be regulated by means of an idler 26. Asprocket 21 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft of the roller 22and is connected by a sprocket chain 28 with a sprocket wheel 29 on theshaft of the brush I3 to rotate the latter. A polished cylinder premer38 is fixed to the frame adjacent to the card clothing roller 5 and bothholds the fabric in contact with such roller and presses into closecontact with the backing any pile loops disturbed by the passage of thecard clothing roller I5. The fabric is held in engagement with the cardclothing roller 22 by the revoluble rollers 3| and 32. A supplyreservoir 35 is mounted between the card clothing rollers l5 and 22 andis provided with a series of valved outlets 36 through which the coatingis discharged and flows, down an inclined hinged plate 31 to the blade38 adjustably fixed to the tank frame by the bolts 39. The bottom of theblade contains an arcuate groove 38a forming a lip 38b and a narrow edge38c lies between the arcuate groove 38a and the bevel 38d. I

The blade edge 38c bears against the fabric backing and appliesadditional tensionthereto to place the fabric in suitable condition forthe application of the coating fluid which flows from the hinged plate31 down the face of the blade 38. The excess coating is scraped or wipedby the edge 38c and forms a species of wave which groove 384: by thedownward projection of the lip 38b, and the swirling action resultingfrom such confinement and the movement of the fabric forces the coatingfluid into the interstices and pores of the fabric.

The tension applied to the fabric and the permeation of the coatingthereinto may be regulated by the-vertical and angular adjustment of thereservoir and blade unit which is journalled by trunnions 48 invertically movable bearings 4| which are vertically adjustable by meansof the screws 42 fixed theretdand threaded in worm-' wheels or nuts 43journalled in the bearings 44. The peripheral teeth of the wormwheels 43mesh with worms 45 on a shaft 46 rotatable by the handwheel 41.

A scale and pointer 48 indicate the vertical movement of the reservoirand blade and a scale and pointer 49 indicate the angular movementthereof.

heexcess coating deposited on the fabric and deflected therefrom by theblade 38 is discharged into a drip pan 58 from which it may bedischarged through a pipe.5| into a pail 52 for return to the storagetank 53 which discharges through the valved pipe54 to the supplyreservoir 35. Where, however, considerable quantities of excess coatingaccumulate in the drip pan it is preferable to withdraw it therefrom bymeans of the drain pipe 55 projecting downward. into the sump 56 belowthe screen 51. The pipe 55 contains a non-return valve 58 and forms asiphon,-

and discharging into the tank 59 which communicates near its bottom withthe pipe 68 containing the non-retum valve 6|. The pipe 68 may dischargeinto the supply reservoir 53 or directly to the supply tank 35.

The tank 59 contains a float 62 flxed on an arm 63 of a shaft 64journalled in the tank. An end of the shaft 64 projecting from the tankhas fixed thereto arms 65 and 66 movable by the oscillation of the shaftinto engagement with a tumbler 61 of a double acting electric switch 68.When the float 62 rises, it oscillates the shaft 64, and causes the arm66 to rock the toggle 61, which operates the switch 68 to close thecircuits of electric valves 69 and 18 controlling passage through thepipes 1| and 12. The pipe 1| is connected with the atmosphere, and thepipe 12 is connected with a source of fluid pressure, such as an aircompressor. When the switch 68 is operated by the rise of the float 62,the valve 69 is actuated to close the pipe 1| and the valve 18 isactuated 12, so that air under pressure is discharged into the tank 59,but diffused by the baille 13 to avoid agitation of the coating fluidtherein. The pressure of the tankcloses the valve 58, opens the valve 6|and forces the liquid in the tank through the pipe 68.and into thecoating supply tank. When the liquid level in the tank falls, the float62 falls therewith and causes the arm 65 to rock the toggle 61, therebyoperating the switch 68 and causing the actuation of the electric valve69 to open the pipe 1| and the actuation of the electric valve 18 toclose the pipe 12. The pressure in the tank is lated in the sump 56.

to open the pipe The coated fabric passes from the roll 32 over the cardclothing-roller 15 having wires or teeth 16 projecting from theperiphery thereof in a clockwise direction. The teeth 16 are ofsufflcient length to house the pile threads between them and support thefabric, backing.

The fabric passes from the roller 15 to pin chains 16a, which engage theselvage of the fabric and carry it in a circuitous route over therollers 11 of the enclosed dryer 18. The driving shaft 19 of the dryeris connected through the beveled gears 88, shaft 8|, beveled gears 82,shaft 83, beveled gears 84 and shaft 85 with the sprocket 25, so thatthe ing mechanismare operated in synchronism.

It will be understood that in the practice of my invention the looselywoven pile fabric formed by splitting the pile of a double plush fabricmay be conditioned for coating by passage through the humidifier 1wherein the backing is dampened without substantially moistening the cutpile face of the fabric, so that the capillarity of the backing fibresand pile loops is increased disproportionately to the capillarity of thepile tips; The moistening of the fibres is of particular advantage wherethe backing is composed of cotdryer conveyor and coatthe blade by themeans described the tension of the-cloth and the degree of penetrationof the coating may be regulated. The coated fabric passes under theroller 3| over the card clothing roller 22, under the roller 32 and overthe card clothing roller 15 to the pin chain of the dryer by which thecoating is coagulated and vulcanized to solidify it into a thin filmwhich firmly anchors the pile threads, and reinforces and preventsraveling of the fabric.

My apparatusis particularly adapted for coating with an aqueousdispersion of rubber, either in the form of natural latex or in the formof an artificial dispersion of rubber. Such aqueous rubber dispersionsmay have mixed therewith suitable vulcanizers, accelerators and fillers.Such compounds are frequently of a somewhat unstable character, but myimprovements permit the use thereof without deleterious effects thereonor upon the loosely woven fabric, which is being treated.

While my improvements are particularly applicable to the coating of cutpile fabrics, it will be evident that they may be used in connectionwith the coating of uncut pile fabrics, viz fabrics having two spacedbackings connected by warp threads.

Having described my invention, I claim:--

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a humidifier, a brushto which fabric passes from said humidifier, a plurality of cardclothing rollers to which fabric passes from said brush, a bladedisposed between such card clothing rollers for engaging a fabricsupported there-' by, and a presser disposed between said blade and oneof said card clothing rollers.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising means to humidity thebacking of a loosely woven pile fabric disproportionately to the pileface of the{fabric, pile evacuating means, pile repositioning means,means to support said fabric with the pile free from said supportingmeans, means to tension said supported fabric, and means to coat saidtensioned fabric.

3. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with means forsupporting and translating a fabric, of a reservoir for impregnatingmaterial-' to be applied to said fabric, and a blade for distributing onsaid fabric impregnating material from said reservoir and containing agroove, said blade having an edge at one side of. said groove adaptedfor engaging fabric translated by said means and also having a lip atthe other side of said groove and disposed above the fabric-contactingsurface of said edge, said lip partly confining impregnating materialswirled in said groove by the movement of said fabric.

4. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with means forsupporting and translating a fabric, of a reservoir for impregnatingmaterial to be applied to said fabric, and ablade for distributing onsaid fabric impregnating material from said reservoir and containing anarcuate groove, said blade forming an edge along one side of said grooveand projecting counter to the direction of movement of fabric by saidmeans, said blade also forming a lip along the opposite side of saidgroove, said lip projecting downward below the top of said groove andterminating substantially above the contacting surface of said edge andforcing the impregnating fluid into the interstices of the fabric.

5. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with areservoir for an impregnating fluid, of means for supporting andtranslating a fabric, a blade adapted for engaging a fabric translatedby said means, and a spreader and deflector to which impregnatingmaterial is discharged from said reservoir and by which such material isdistributed uniformly to said blade.

6. In apparatus for impregnating fabrics, the combination with areservoir for an impregnating fluid and having feed cocks through whichfluid is discharged therefrom, of means for supporting and translating afabric, a blade adapted for engaging a fabric translated by said means,and a plate in the path of discharge from said cocks, said plate beingangularly disposed relatively to a side of said blade and adjustablerelatively thereto, said plate receiving and spreading the efflux fromsaid cocks and uniformly distributing it to said blade.

7. In apparatus for impregnating the back of pile fabric, thecombination witha reservoir for an impregnating fluid, of a blade towhich fluid is supplied from said reservoir, and means for supportingand translating fabric past said blade and comprising spacedcard-clothing rollers forming the sole support holding against thethrust of said blade pile fabric suspended between said card-clothingrollers during the spreading of v impregnating fluid thereon, said cardclothing rollers having teeth housing the pile of fabric be-.

ing impregnated and supporting the back thereof without substantialpressure on the face of the pile.

8. In apparatus for impregnating the back of pile fabric, thecombination with a reservoir for an impregnating fluid, of a blade towhich fluid is supplied from said reservoir, means for supporting andtranslating fabric past said blade and comprising spaced card clothingrollers forming the sole support holding against the thrust of saidblade pile fabric suspended between said card clothing rollers duringthe spreading of impreg- I nating fluid thereon, and a presser disposedbetween said blade and one of said card-clothing rollers for pressingdisplaced pile into the back of fabric about to move under said blade.

ALBERT W. DROBILE.

